This week, you’ll hear all about the amazing holiday snacks at Disney Springs (and one special snack at the Grand Floridian), and the top 5 ways to keep your sanity while visiting Walt Disney World during December!
Listen to us on your favorite podcast platform or at these links:
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IHeartRadio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-supercalifragilistic-aweso-68324055/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7aEKXzO7tTCqZfnvJnzAPC
For show notes, transcript, and more details from this episode, please visit: https://scfadp.com/season-5/disney-news-11-28-holiday-snacks-at-disney-springs-and-5-tips-for-visiting-wdw-during-december/
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All music for this episode is available through a creative commons license. The background music for the News segment was created by Kevin Macleod: Fuzzball Parade by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5044-fuzzball-parade
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
For more things DISNEY (and Disney food reviews), check out our website: https://scfadp.com Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram at @SCFADP!
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Show Notes:
Chris and Kelli discuss Disney-related news and reviews, including updates on box office performance, Marvel movies, Disney+ series, and Disney Parks. They also share their preferences for holiday treats and beverages at Disney Springs, and offer tips for making the most of a Disney World trip during the holiday season. Chris highlights unique offerings at Disney Springs, while Kelli emphasizes creative drinks available throughout Disney Springs. Both speakers express enthusiasm for the variety of holiday offerings available at Disney World.
Outline
Disney movies, news, and TV shows.
- Chris and Kelli discuss Disney-related topics and welcome listeners from various locations.
- Chris and Kelli discuss movies, including Encanto, Ghostbusters, and Hawkeye.
- Kelli enjoyed Encanto but found Eternals cheesy, while Chris liked Hawkeye’s Christmasy notes.
Disney theme park updates, including new content, capacity, and costume made from recycled plastic bottles.
- Disney plans to spend $33 billion on content and sporting rights in 2022.
- Chris and Kelli discuss a new restaurant coming to Epcot, Connections Cafe and Eatery, and Kelli expresses appreciation for a quick-service location that doesn’t require walking up a hill.
- Kelli and Chris also discuss a new holiday show on Spaceship Earth, and Kelli expresses desire for a quick-service location that doesn’t require walking up a hill.
Disney snacks and holiday events at Epcot.
- Chris and Kelli discuss Disney’s holiday offerings, including character meet and greets, holiday snacks, and a new scene coming to Fantasmic.
- Kelli shares her thoughts on the Pocahontas scene being cut from Fantasmic, calling it “horribly whitewashing of its story.”
- Kelli suggests snack shell for desserts and drinks, including lump of coal dessert for $12.
- Marketplace snacks offers peppermint bark nachos for $9.20, with waffle cone chips, chocolate, and peppermint swirled soft serve m&ms.
Holiday drinks and treats at Disney Springs.
- Kelli and Chris discuss various holiday desserts at Emirates Patisserie, including a cherries jubilee bubble waffle and a holiday Mickey mousse.
- Kelli and Chris discuss various holiday drinks available at Disney Springs, including a glowing red Mickey-shaped cube and a snowman-themed Margarita with carrot sugar piece.
- The hosts mention several unique drinks offered at dockside margaritas, including a mistletoe-flavored cocktail with cinnamon whiskey and a Mary Margarita with tequila, ginger liqueur, and cinnamon beverage syrup.
Christmas at Disney World, tips for managing crowds and planning a successful trip.
- Kelli and Chris discuss Christmas treats at Disney Springs, including a gingerbread Mickey cookie ornament and peppermint bark.
- They offer tips for saving sanity during holiday visits to Disney World, including arriving early and using the My Disney Experience app.
- Mentally prepare for crowds during peak holiday weeks and plan accordingly.
- Plan ahead for attractions, events, and meals to make the most of your trip.
Disney World tips for holiday season.
- Chris advises arriving at the park early, especially during holidays, to avoid long security lines.
- Kelli suggests a holiday rope drop show would be a fun and unique experience.
- Chris suggests staying late at Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios to avoid crowds and get better photo opportunities.
- Kelli advises against going straight to shops after fireworks at Magic Kingdom, as it’s a “madhouse.”
- Chris and Kelli share tips for surviving the holidays at Disney World.
- They recommend mac and cheese, hot chocolate, and breaking bread.
Holiday Snacks at Disney Springs:
Main Street:https://variety.com/2021/film/news/disneys-encanto-leads-thanksgiving-box-office-house-of-gucci-lady-gaga-1235120215/
https://variety.com/2021/film/news/disney-streaming-33-billion-spending-plan-2022-1235119451/
https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/disney-world-theme-parks-hit-capacity-for-entire-thanksgiving-week/
https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/disney-world-lightning-lane-options-completely-full-hours-before-park-close/
https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/disney-world-no-longer-selling-theme-park-tickets-for-thanksgiving-week-as-parks-reach-capacity/
https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/breaking-disney-world-pauses-most-annual-pass-sales/
https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/perimeter-fireworks-return-to-magic-kingdom-tonight/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWhAg2WvyH9/
https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/cosmic-rewind-attraction-at-epcot-not-part-of-mcu/
https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/annual-passholder-exclusive-cup-announced-for-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays/
https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/epcot-characters-dress-up-for-holiday-season-at-distanced-sightings/https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/figments-holiday-sweater-returns-for-2021-epcot-festival-of-the-holidays/
https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/mickey-mouse-moves-to-new-meet-and-greet-location-at-epcot/https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/santa-claus-now-meeting-at-epcot/
https://blogmickey.com/2021/11/rumor-pocahontas-scene-cut-from-fantasmic-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/
World Showcase: https://orlandoinsidervacations.com/disney-christmas-tips/
Episode Transcript:
Chris 0:29
Disney fam Hello out there Disney fam. We are back. My name is Chris. And I’m Kelly. Welcome to this week’s show. You are clearly going to be on brand tonight with your gingerbread years where my
Kelli 0:46
gingerbread Mickey and Minnie ears which I think are totes adorbs and I am on brand tonight. Totes on brand
Chris 0:51
can get over how many years you’ve got with Bose. This is
Kelli 0:55
a small bow. It’s a peppermint bow. You know, and I prefer to think of this one as like a bow tie. But in any case, Honey, would you like to share with us where people are listening from this week?
Chris 1:07
Sure. Rochester, Michigan joined in this week. That was a thing I didn’t either and we actually had a Rochester Minnesota before and that screw that up. Was that really Michigan last time but no, there are multiples, which is fine. But there can be multiple Rochester. So no judgement at Rochester, north of Detroit. These folks are and then we are happy to have them. Pittsburgh, California. Oh God hear of other places called although this has no h on the end of it. So it’s more like the Pittsburgh, Kansas I think it’s for Kansas. This is northeast of San Francisco in the East Bay region. Okay. You’re impressed. I know where another Pittsburgh is. New Haven, Connecticut. Okay, which we love home of Yale University. But more importantly, honestly, is the home of petpace Pizzeria. Which is maybe the best pizza I’ve ever eaten in my life. And then here we go. Belen de Escobar, Argentina, just north of Buenos Aires,
Kelli 2:12
I thought was very nice. What a fun little collection places
Chris 2:15
this week. So very nice. All right, Main Street, Main Street. Let’s
Kelli 2:20
do it. All right.
Chris 2:22
So hey, huge news. We saw it in Canada. We did is great. So $5.8 million on Thanksgiving Day. 13 point 3 million domestically through the end of the day Friday and $40 million through the whole weekend to lead all movies this past weekend. Wow. It was you know your top house of Gucci which is supposed to be great. So okay. The
Kelli 2:47
top Ghostbusters because I really liked Ghostbusters afterlife.
Chris 2:50
It did. But I think that was technically considered last weekend. Yeah,
Kelli 2:54
but I mean, like, just in general.
Chris 2:57
It did. Yes. It has taught just semesters after last. I
Kelli 3:00
really liked that one. Well, I
Chris 3:02
didn’t Kanto loved incanto. In fact, that gives see it again, bright now.
Kelli 3:07
We also saw the Eternals which I did not enjoy.
Chris 3:08
Why are you so good at talking about incanto? Well, I
Kelli 3:12
mean, we’re just talking about Disney. Right, Marvel? Yeah, that’s true. Was that part of your news? How much money did the Eternals bring in? I don’t know. We’ll see. I’m trying to be universal and talk about everybody. And you’re like, oh, we’ll talk about that. Here’s what I’m talking about in Kanto
Chris 3:27
in Canada was beautiful. And message and visually stunning. I
Kelli 3:33
loved it. Yeah. I did not think the same of the Eternals. I know you didn’t. I know you did a lot of issues with the attorney. It was beautifully diverse. I will give marvel that and a lot of different ways. But it could not have possibly been more cheesy. That’s well, okay, but it’s fine. We’re talking about news. We’re not bashing the movies I hate.
Chris 3:56
All I know is Encanto was just another thing that made me feel like Lin Manuel Miranda is is not human.
Kelli 4:04
No, I know he’s just written money. But
Chris 4:11
Hawkeye came out. What do you think of that? Oh, you haven’t seen it? I know. I speak tonight. Yes, I saw the first episode. And then I didn’t watch the second one because I didn’t want to Disney plus cheat on you. Appreciate that. We’re gonna watch one or two of them tonight. Okay, FYI. I thought the first episode was wonderful is hitting exactly those Christmasy notes that I wanted to hit while also being straight up Marvel. I love to
Kelli 4:40
tell me it was Christmas Eve. I don’t think you told me it was Christmas. I did. I think I would have watched it earlier than tonight. If you told me it was Christmas. You I think you left it out.
Chris 4:49
Hey, Disney plans to spend $33 billion on new content and 2022. That’s $8 billion more than they spent the previous year. This includes is approximately 50 new titles for various outlet outlets on Disney plus Hulu, ESPN plus major motion pictures through all of their venues, which is gosh, so many of them. Also sporting rights for ESPN. Wow. So 33 billion they’re going to spend and they’ll make every dime of it, please. Yes. Um, no surprises here. But while Disney Parks had capacity multiple times during the Thanksgiving week, they actually suspended ticket sales a couple of times.
Kelli 5:28
Are they running at full capacity right now?
Chris 5:31
I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know.
Kelli 5:34
Let’s be forthcoming on that.
Chris 5:35
I think that they’re technically running at full capacity is just that there’s, you know, there’s fewer international people that are able to get into the parks.
Kelli 5:45
Right. I’m just saying I’d net before the pandemic I had never heard of them hitting capacity. That’s true. I don’t Thanksgiving or Christmas. I’d man maybe
Chris 5:52
I just wasn’t looking for it. Like they literally stopped selling tickets. Lightning Lane opportunities sold out hours before the day ended on a few days. Okay. Speaking of suspending ticket sales, Disney has temporarily paused most annual past sales. So you know, they got four annual pass versions now. And I think they’ve they’ve basically paused all the ones that are available for folks outside of Florida at this point. So why, you know, I don’t I’m not real sure why I didn’t get a lot of good information from the articles that I read. But does not it does not impact annual pass renewals. Okay. So interesting. Yeah. Hopefully more information will come out on that. Or maybe I just didn’t see it. Disney cast members at Epcot have debuted a new costume made entirely of recycled plastic bottles, which I think
Kelli 6:55
is great. It’s fantastic.
Chris 6:58
There is a new restaurant coming to Epcot in the space that used to be of the electric umbrella it’s called connections cafe and eatery. Zack, Zack really who we follow on Instagram posted about it it’ll be a quick service location. And it you know he’s he’s very on brand with the way he describes the what this is expected to feel like. But he posted this beautiful mural that’s going to be inside that eatery.
Kelli 7:27
That’s cool. I need a little bit more quick service over there. I mean, I know that get the land. Live with land. But I don’t always want to walk up that hill It’s so ridiculous. I’m aware of how ridiculous that sounds like it is a big to do to go all the way up that hill and then escalator and then you’re in a sea of people which
Chris 7:56
I despise. This is a first world problem it
Kelli 8:00
is like a massive sea of people fighting over s&s Cafeteria buffet and
Unknown Speaker 8:05
Oh Lord
Kelli 8:08
I just can’t just cannot with the land I would appreciate a quick service that doesn’t require me to walk up a hill and go down and escalate
sorry land a little
Chris 8:26
with the privilege.
Kelli 8:27
I love you land.
Chris 8:29
Oh gosh, Zack also shared her first look at the new holiday show that takes place on spaceship Earth. So using the new beacons of magic you know lighting they design like a holiday type you know sequence for those lights on the on the special
Kelli 8:46
out Zach and ask him to play that until the middle of January. Please.
Chris 8:50
You should please somebody to get them to do that. Because we’re going right head to Christmas man and man love to see some of that stuff. If this is something you’ll care deeply about Guardians of the Galaxy cosmic rewind is not going to be considered part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So the whatever story we’re being told in that roller coaster doesn’t really impact or what’s going on?
Kelli 9:15
It’s just a separate kind of thing. Just a separate little story. It’s probably gonna be like the thing at Disneyland where it’s just rocket causing disaster.
Chris 9:24
Yeah, I’m sure right. Sure. Exactly.
Kelli 9:30
I wasn’t really worried. But now you weren’t.
Chris 9:32
We’re not gonna get into why it’s not either, because it’s totally irrelevant. You might as well be talking to a stop sign. There’s a new annual Passholder exclusive cup coming to Epcot festival the holiday so this is like a little clear cup that you can drink out of right. Looks like the new annual pass logo on it. Oh,
Kelli 9:53
now see, I’m for that. I really hope they have those discounted on January the second yeah
Chris 10:02
like are even available that would be available discounted,
Kelli 10:05
you know, whatever just don’t pack them back up,
Chris 10:08
right whatever. So buy it even if it’s full price. That’s why
Speaker 1 10:12
I love love souvenir Do you really do um
Chris 10:19
character characters are available to view at Epcot like joy and poo are now in their holiday outfits, even even figment on journey into imagination has gotten a little Christmas sweater.
Kelli 10:30
Oh no, I didn’t know figma wore clothes. He
Chris 10:32
wears little sweater. And sometimes he’s got that little. He’s got that little yellow and red jumpsuit top. Now
Kelli 10:38
he does wear a t shirt. Yeah.
Chris 10:42
Love it animal wearing clothes do. Mickey and Santa are both available to meet and greet at Epcot. Mickey has been available recently at the main entrance plaza at Epcot. But he has moved back to the magic a theater that’s adjacent to the imagination pavilion there where Cattaneo used to be okay, back in the day. Okay. Then that’s technically I guess, his usual spot at Epcot. Santa will be at the American Pavilion. He’s on the far right hand side of the pavilion near the big Christmas tree there. Okay. So I guess you can ask him, you know, tell them what you want for Christmas.
Kelli 11:19
Okay.
Chris 11:22
This is interesting. So we I predicted this last week. There’s a new scene coming to Fantasmic Yes, yeah, of course. The the rumor now. The official unofficial rumor is that it’s to replace the Pocahontas scene which will be
Kelli 11:38
cut. It’s horribly racist.
Chris 11:41
Yes, at the very least, horribly whitewashing of
Kelli 11:44
its horrible whitewashing of it. Yes. It’s a horrible whitewashing of that story.
Chris 11:49
So yes. Hey, you know, what we could really use from folks is more voicemails, more voicemails on our many take, which is if you could be any Disney animal, which would you be? Go to our website, SCF adp.com. And click on the button that says voicemail, right and sort of follow the wizard there and leave us a voicemail, which it is and when would you be right
Kelli 12:14
and I’ll even give you a break on. You don’t have to tell us why. You can just leave a voicemail with the animal and then I’ll just take Holloman to a big list of a whole bunch of different voices saying random animals, right. Let’s just do that. And then we’ll just
Chris 12:28
take our Yes. Okay, well, you ready for your little Tomorrowland food thing?
Kelli 12:35
I’m ready for Tomorrowland. All right. So we’re gonna hit some holiday snacks,
Chris 12:40
which who doesn’t love a holiday? Right? Tis
Kelli 12:42
the season to be married. So we’re going to start at Disney Springs. If we have time, I will hit a few of the resorts. But man, there’s some stuff going on at Disney Springs. Okay, so we’re gonna start at Jacqueline Z’s holiday bar. Okay, love it. I know. I’m only talking about snack shell. So we’re talking about essentially desserts and drinks. Let’s just just bring that up. Why would we want anything else? So Jacqueline ziens and a couple of other these places have some savory items too. But we’re not going there. Okay, we’re just talking essentially desserts and drinks. So Jacqueline de Lindsay’s we’ve got the claws mo which is $16 Absolut Citron. Cointreau, lime juice, cranberry juice and shimmer. Whichever shimmer. I didn’t know that was the thing. But anyway, they also have a again, this is a request that I wasn’t included but I am holiday covered deviled eggs with shrimp. These are $12 And it’s like you get a red deviled egg agreement and a white one. So they look like the Christmas lights. These things are all the rage. Yeah, everybody loves those. They also have cookies and milk. Now I’m gonna tell you this is $27 and you’re all going to be like oh my gosh, cookies and milk for $27. Well, you’re getting four cookies with CO hito now this is a Puerto Rican drink made with eggnog, rum and coconut and cinnamon. Nice. Okay, now if you want to swap out that go hito for milk then your milk and cookies are only $9 Okay. But here’s what I thought was super cool. The lump of coal desert. This is $12 Okay, and it comes out on what looks like a little a little black grill little tiny black grill with like a fake fire underneath it. Wow. And it looks like coal sitting on top of it. It’s not served hot. That’s just for looks. And you’ve got a little thing of icing next to it. This is cookies and cream. Good nosh. Oh goodness with icing to dip it in. They bring this to your table under like a glass dome with smoke in it. So when they lift it up it smokes. Yes $12 For that really? That’s what I would get with some African nation on that. Yes. Marketplace snacks has peppermint bark nachos. What for? $9.20 incense. These are waffle cone chips, like red and green and regular waffle cone, but broken up into chips, topped with chocolate and peppermint swirled, soft serve m&ms, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, Candy Cane sprinkles and a piece of peppermint bark strong.
Chris 15:20
That is right, right. Really great idea.
Kelli 15:24
I’m on nachos.
Chris 15:26
That’s awesome.
Kelli 15:30
It looks awesome. By the way. Arista, crepes. They have a cherries jubilee bubble waffle you would have never had.
Chris 15:37
I want to do Arista cribs is one of those places we never get to.
Kelli 15:41
We don’t and we never get to amaretto either. They’re on my list. Arista crepes has a cherries jubilee bubble waffle for 899 This is a bubble waffle filled with scoops of vanilla ice cream cherries, Jubilee filling, prevailing pieces and whipped cream. It looks amazing. Yeah, they also have a Santa’s hot crepe. This is a sweet crepe filled with eggnog custard topped with chocolate sauce and whipped cream. That’s what I want. That sounds like sounds ClD Great. Now Emirates always brings it Emirates patisserie they always bring it so they’ve got a white chocolate peppermint Eclair for $8.50 This is a white chocolate and peppermint mousse filling. Garnish with pieces of peppermint candy and gold leaf. Like come on man gold Lee How
Chris 16:28
much $8.50 $8 and eat some gold.
Kelli 16:33
It ever asked. You can’t. They always have a dome cake, some little holiday cake and so this one is the holiday Mickey mousse. So mini dome cake for $9 This would be your chocolate chiffon cake, a dark chocolate mousse and a white chocolate mousse
Chris 16:49
setting. Let’s see what they did there.
Kelli 16:51
I love their little dumb cakes. They also have a holiday parfait for $9 which is a bourbon white chocolate mousse, cranberry cherry pannacotta maple chocolate ganache, a chocolate chiffon cake and it’s garnished with candy preludes and Marang trees
Chris 17:13
Marang
Kelli 17:16
it is a it’s an adorable little tree. By the way. It is the cutest little green tree you’ve ever seen sitting on top of a parfait. I loved it so much.
Chris 17:24
That’s nice. So great. So Emerald Bay made just the most pretty things beautiful, just pretty gorgeous, gorgeous dome cakes. Look my good to pretty dead.
Kelli 17:33
Yes. The mirror glaze. Glaze Yes. D looks burger has a $16 shake. That is called the OH DEAR cookie shake hands with that same D or D E R. Vanilla gelato, hazelnut lacor cinnamon syrup, whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon and sugar with a dear shake ginger cookie garnish. Now what I will say is what I saw online is not deer shaped and people have been mentioning that that it’s a star shaped ginger cookie garnish. So I’m gonna bet that like the deers legs were breaking off or something in the stars just easier to work with. So they should rename it to be like oh star
Chris 18:21
whatever or maybe it’s something a little more free.
Kelli 18:24
Starbucks is bringing it So Starbucks has tons of holiday beverages. And you can get some that you cannot get here in like regular land.
Chris 18:36
We all live regularly.
Kelli 18:37
I was on our world regularly and they have an iced sugar cookie latte with almond milk. And it looks really totes adorbs I would totally get that. Okay, Disney Springs has these cocktail carts that sit out Oh really? Right. You’ve seen it before like as you’re walking around, it’s like a random bar like a cocktail bar right? Okay, so they are selling $5 Jingle Bell glow cubes. This looks like a Mickey head jingle bell but like it’s gold, okay, and it glows red like through the parts where you wouldn’t be able to see the bell thing not explained that well based on their face. I really screwed that description up. In any case, you can get that for $5 on top of any drink. Okay, they have these three drinks they have a mistletoe which is coconut rum, melon liqueur, Blue Curacao, orange juice, pineapple juice and sprite. I mean, they are just really bringing it with the drinks. They are. That’s mistletoe fireside cider. Oh, it’s cinnamon whiskey, vanilla vodka, white cranberry juice. Grenadine and ginger ale. Yeah. Mary Margarita, tequila, ginger liqueur, cinnamon beverage syrup. What is that cinnamon beverage syrup. White cranberry juice, sweet and sour and grenadine. Gosh, I know and this is Is that just like a random little cart that’s in the middle of
Chris 20:02
spring don’t skimp with the creativity anywhere
Kelli 20:05
they don’t. dockside margaritas has a snowman on the beach Margarita. Silver Tequila key lime juice cream to coconut sweet and sour graham cracker rim chocolate pearls and a carrot sugar piece. Do not know what that is a carrot sugar piece piece of what is p i e c e not P E. A see a piece of something piece of something that has caret character. Piece of sugar carrot. Yeah. So I’ve saved the best for last. Okay, that will be the ganache Cherie. Oh, no, I’ll just say we’ve waited in line to get into the glossary before trying to get that Oh, love bomb never made it in. They have more than the aloft bomb, sure. But that’s what everybody’s in line for. But whatever. So they’ve got five things this year. They’ve still got your Olaf hot cocoa surprise, okay, which is what everybody wants. And if you want it, get there in line two hours before they open period Hearthstone go get yourself a drink at one of the beverage carts and just have a seat and wait. They also have a Santa Mickey pin yada. Oh, very similar to the law of surprise. It’s uh It’s he’s got Kenyatta stuff and in which looks like like red and white. Stars. confetti. Okay, Kaylee confetti? I’m sure something something along those lines. Yeah. They also have a gingerbread ganache square. peppermint bark. And a chocolate Christmas cottage. Now the chocolate Christmas cottage is only available the week of Christmas. Oh, okay.
Chris 21:58
Like their their. Their stuff is also really pretty. So it’s a nice a peppermint bark. This isn’t gonna be like what you pick up? In the in the bakery of your grocery
Kelli 22:09
store, right? No, no, no. I’m not gonna get to the resorts. But I will say the grand flow has a 50th anniversary Gingerbread, Mickey cookie ornament. Edible $12 They have a lot of 50th anniversary stuff. They’re made out of gingerbread. Okay, so if that’s something you’re looking for, that’d be a fun place to go.
Chris 22:28
Awesome. So we’re gonna hit Disney Springs, but all this stuff is gonna be gone.
Kelli 22:33
I know. It’s so sad. Almost all of it goes away on December the 31st. Like they don’t even go until New Year’s Eve.
Chris 22:40
I mean, we’re gonna be there on the second.
Kelli 22:42
I know. That’s what I’m saying. Like our tree still going to be up when we get home for sure. might not take it down to march. Why
Chris 22:48
would we take it down? Honestly, we always talked about how we should keep Christmas in our hearts all year. But we can’t wait to take that stuff down. And you know, our little
Kelli 22:57
robot vacuum struggles to vacuum around. We leave it up. I might start back even. First World reasons. I’m
Chris 23:08
not gonna argue with you. Okay, so I’m on Christmas also, but I’m going to talk about five tips. But really five plus tips on how to save your sanity. If you go to Disney during the holidays. Oh, okay. Right. Huge shout out to Orlando insider vacations.com. For for what they listed as 12 tips, but I’m whittling it down to five. Some of them really could be combined. Okay. We’ve been to Disney a number of times during the holidays, we’ve never gone on Thanksgiving or Christmas week, right? But a lot of these things apply, no matter when you go during the holidays. So and then we’ll we’ll add some color here and some other little sub tips here, right? First one, just go ahead and mentally prepare for the crowds, especially during Thanksgiving week or Christmas week. It’s just like, there’s nobody that can explain to you what you’re going to experience with the crowds. Those particular days of the year, Don’t go this way. No, you just gonna have to go ahead and accept that you’re not going to get to do everything you want to do normally. And honestly, you’re going at that time of year for something that Disney does really, really well which is create that atmosphere, right? You just need to go for the atmosphere and enjoy it for what it is and it is still spectacular. I mean, lower those
Kelli 24:45
expectations lower every Raji like exactly
Chris 24:47
no the parade and show schedules so that you can go find yourself a comfy spot well ahead of time for those things. The article that I pulled this from suddenly grumpy at home and take happy instead. Yeah, right. It’s much more about the atmosphere at every park, honestly, yes, they do it, they do such a good job of it.
Kelli 25:13
You’re gonna wait in line, you’re gonna have hard patients. Exactly, yes. So you prep for it.
Chris 25:18
This next one is is sort of really anytime you go to Disney. And it’s something that gets a bad rap. It’s approach you’re planning to this trip, like you’re in the military, but also be flexible. Okay, right. People complain about how much planning goes into Disney trips. But honestly, if you think about it, you had to plan any vacation. That’s why we complain
Kelli 25:42
about that. It’s just because it’s just walk up to San detasseling. Just walk
Chris 25:48
up somewhere and get, you know, decent meals and that kind of thing. Like maybe you could 20 years ago. But it’s you know, if you think about it, even if you want to go on a vacation where you just want to sit on the beach and put your butt there, you’re, it’s wise to plan for that too. Or else you won’t get the you know, but on the beach time that you want, right, right. So, know which attractions or events or even meal slash restaurants are most important to you. And then plan your trip around those, we recommend using crowd calendars like the one at undercover tourist.com. If you need to call an audible, because something just isn’t working out in your plan, use a backup plan. And refer back to rule number one.
Kelli 26:37
Expect the plan be
Chris 26:40
mentally prepare to be disappointed sometimes and get over it quickly. Know which days Disney will host a very Merry Christmas party this year or whatever it is that they’re calling it. If you’re taking part in it wonderful. Go to the park that day. You’ll enjoy it. It’s a really great time. If not, don’t let that surprise you and end up cutting off an hour or two of your day because you had to leave the park for the party to get started. Right? Right. If you’re going to be at Disney over the new year for their New Year’s celebrations, you will be able to see the New Year’s fireworks actually a day early. And you will get two firework shows on both December 30 and 31st. So 650 Each day, you will see the Disney enchantment firework show. And then at 1150 Each day the 30th and the 31st you will see their New Year’s celebration fireworks. Oh, fun. Yeah. So that’s really cool. If you don’t plan to actually be in the park on the 31st and Magic Kingdom specifically, you can be there on December 30 and still see the New Year’s celebration fireworks. Again, I think this is a good idea. This next one, just about any time but especially true for the holiday times arrive early slash stay late or both, right? Get to the park at least an hour before opening. Especially these days, it seems like the ticket to getting into the earliest the security gate really gets backed up like it does. So I’d say get there at least an hour before Park opening. A great way to achieve this is to get breakfast reservations in the park that you’re planning to visit that morning is when you get in. Yeah, get them as early as you can get them because they will let you into the park. Well Ahead. And sometimes it sort of feels like you get the park to yourself. So really cool experience. So that’s one way to do that.
Kelli 28:43
Would they do rope drop during the holidays? Is it a special like holiday rope drop show? Yeah, I
Chris 28:48
don’t know. That’s a good question.
Kelli 28:49
That’d be a fun thing to see. We’ve actually never done rope drop. Every time we’ve planned for it. It hasn’t worked out. But we sort of saw it from the monorail once. Yeah, that would be really cool if they did a holiday rope drop. Yeah.
Chris 29:00
If you know, let us know. Addison, let us know if they do a different sort of rope drop show during the holidays. If you’re staying close to one of the parks. I was thinking initially about Magic Kingdom specifically, but really, you know, you could do that depending on where you’re staying. If you’re staying at one of the Epcot resorts which are also close to Hollywood Studios. This will work it’s a really good idea to go early. Do the morning at the park and then head back to your resort. You know, catch a nap hanging by the pool. Just get some you know some downtime in and then go back to the park in the evening to spend the nighttime there. That’s a really, I loved it. It feels like you got two trips to the park. And it’s you don’t feel just completely exhausted at the end of the night. Magic Kingdom is if you’re staying at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts, grand flow contemporary Polly then hopping on that monorail Oh and makes that much easier. But if you’re at Epcot and you’re staying at Boardwalk or yacht or beach club, or even the swatted often, it’s really easy to do that they’re from there or Hollywood Studios also, if you’re at the Magic Kingdom, stay late. Don’t just walk out with the crowd after the fireworks, the crowd like just bolts for the exits right after the fireworks. Don’t just cop a squat somewhere on the sidewalk or somewhere near Main Street. Or go ride some rides even because people are going the opposite direction. May Magic Kingdom in particular, main street shops stay open a minimum of one hour past official closing time and usually official closing time is sometime after the fireworks is like like unlike Epcot, the park doesn’t close with the ending of the fireworks. And then they say they stay open officially an hour past closing. But it’s usually closer to two hours past close
Kelli 31:05
it is but I will say do not go after the fireworks don’t go straight into the shops like don’t think I’m gonna see the fireworks and then go to the shops because it is a madhouse?
Chris 31:14
No, it is because that’s what they’re doing. They’re all leaving and they’re going through the shops don’t just find the spot to sit, do some people watching or go ride a ride or two. And then you hit Main Street Well, after everyone has sort of dispersed as much fewer people you get some wonderful opportunities to take Christmas shots. And and then if you stay late enough, you might even get to see the good night kiss with the castle, which is even more special during the holidays. Sort of a safety idea here pre arranged for separation and safety. So if you’ve we don’t typically have to worry about this. But if you’re with a large crowd, especially if you’ve got like kiddos or even preteens or teenagers just make a plan at the beginning of the day that says something like if we get separated at any time throughout the day, we’re we’re going to meet up at this time in this spot. Right and then if you’ve got younger kids, go ahead and introduce them to a cast member. The cast members are great about it so that they know what a safe person to speak with. Looks like they’ve got the right kind of tag on that kind of thing. Yep. All right. Last thing this might be a little bit of a surprise, maybe not dress in layers. It’s the Sunshine State but it is also the start of winter we’ve been in December when it was quite warm. We had been when it was quite cold. Yes. all on the same bed when it was both on the same day. Pro tip if you can take a light blanket for comfort during the nighttime spectaculars. Specifically if you’re at Fantasmic you’re going to be sitting on metal bleach so it gets chilly a fan that gets chilly so but a blanket and then a hot chocolate from the refreshment stand can make all the difference there and you’ll enjoy that show.
Kelli 33:08
Even more you could also just pick yourself up some of that mac and cheese and when those bread comes from the bathroom I
Chris 33:14
wouldn’t say when you’re when you’re getting your hot chocolate just get the mac and cheese and bread come we all need more mac and cheese to break bread.
Kelli 33:24
Cheese and a break.
Chris 33:26
So yeah, so those are our tips to sort of keep your sanity during the holidays but just go expecting that you’re there to be there and not much more than that, right? Yes.
Kelli 33:37
It’s valid. Yeah, very valid. We did the holidays and I’ve never thought it was horrific. No,
Chris 33:42
that’s right. Okay, folks, that is this week’s show. We hope you enjoyed it. If you did you know what to do now. Go out there leave us a review wherever you get your podcast from leave us a rating it helps bring more people to the show. Yes,
Kelli 33:55
it does. And if you’re looking for more things Disney please visit SCF adp.com. That’s s for Super C for Cali F for French wholistic, a for awesome D for Disney P for podcast. That is also where you’re gonna find that little button that says voicemail up in the top navigation so that you can leave us a voicemail that says what’s your favorite Disney animal is what and what Disney animal you would be in wine.
Chris 34:19
Also, join us on all the socials. You can find us there at SCF ADP, check out our channel on YouTube, go follow us subscribe to our channel on YouTube ring that bell and share us tag us in that and we will give you entries into our contest that we’re currently running for all those cool prizes. The more the merrier with all that. And with that we hope to see you real soon
